Pasco EDC Honored with Two Innovation in Marketing Awards

May 21, 2025

At last week's Florida Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Port Charlotte, the Pasco Economic Development Council received two prestigious awards and led a featured breakout session.

PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (May 21, 2025): Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is honored to announce it received two Innovation in Marketing Awards from the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) at the annual conference held last week. Additionally, Tom Ryan, CEcD, Pasco EDC Vice President, Business Development, led a breakout presentation titled “Cattles to Cookies: How Bauducco Chose Zephyrhills for their U.S. Production and Distribution Facility”. The presentation highlighted the partnerships and the process that led Bauducco Foods to choose Pasco County for its $230 million business expansion.

FEDC honored Pasco EDC with two awards at its annual conference in Port Charlotte, Florida, at the Awards Dinner on May 15, 2025.

The Innovative Partnership Award recognized the Pasco EDC SMARTstart Program and its collaboration with CO.STARTERS, nine non-profit organizations, United Way, and The Vinik Foundation for the “CO.STARTERS for Causes” inaugural cohort.
1. Pasco EDC proudly hosted the inaugural “CO.STARTERS for Causes” cohort, a unique nine-week program specifically designed for non-profit organizations. The program provided vital training to scale and meet the demands of our growing community. CO.STARTERS is a national program offered through our entrepreneurship program, SMARTstart, to businesses looking to work through their business model and learn from industry professionals. SMARTstart provides tools growing businesses need for long-term success like funding, education, guidance, collaboration, and workspace.
The Organic Marketing Campaign Award recognized the brand-new Pasco Ready Sites 3D Property Videos.
1. Pasco EDC utilizes the Ready Sites Program as a major recruitment tool and has seen tremendous success with the sale of three sites, $461 million in capital investment, and over 1,250 new jobs. In this project, we created upscale and engaging property videos for each site utilizing 3D and creative drone imaging. Each video highlights location and access, utilities and infrastructure, and scaled renderings of how sites could be utilized by the end user.

“I am delighted to see Pasco EDC’s work recognized at the state level by the Florida Economic Development Council,” stated Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC President/CEO. “Our team works hard to create innovative marketing initiatives and powerful partnerships that further the positive economic growth of Pasco County.”

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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.